So then, what’s this Madhouse we keep hearing about?
The Madhouse is Melbourne’s new home of metal. We’re a club dedicated to all styles of ‘real’ heavy metal from power and prog metal, classic metal and hard-rock, through to thrash, black and death metal. Of course we won’t get into sub-genres or we might need an extra 120 seconds…
What made you decide to open the Madhouse?
I felt that there was a big black hole (“none more blacker”- Nigel Tuffnel, Spinal Tap) in the Melbourne nightclub scene for a dedicated heavy metal nightclub.
What sets the Madhouse apart from other heavy music clubs?
While Melbourne’s live music and nightclub scene offers punters some opportunity to hear heavy music, we are the only 100% dedicated to heavy metal nightclub where you’ll hear the likes of Amon Amarth, Iced Earth, Metallica, Carcass, Mayhem, Megadeth, Blind Guardian, Tesseract, Slayer, Gojira and Lamb of God alongside veteran acts like Iron Maiden and Priest as well as established and up and coming local talent such as Mortal Sin, Lord, Ne Obliviscarus and Be’Lakor to name but a few! We are also looking to incorporate some live bands into our nights in the very near future!
What do you hate about the music industry?
It’s not so much the music industry but the masses who blindly subscribe to the latest trend or ‘reality music’ TV product without for a second contemplating the prospect of there being something more out there than the fast food garbage they’re served up via mainstream media. If the overwhelming majority of people weren’t so easily influenced and manipulated, then the music industry would naturally be in a much better place.
If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why?
I would travel back in time to 1981 and introduce Randy Rhoads to Guitar Hero, just to see how quickly he masters the expert difficulty. I imagine it wouldn’t take him too long!
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why?
Although I don’t advocate assassinating anybody, in an alternate universe the recipient of my angst would be Simon Fuller who created American Idol and is indirectly responsible for global spinoffs and numerous other ‘talent’ shows clogging up free to air network time and distracting people from discovering musicians who actually write their own songs. Other than him, Justin Bieber and Britney Spears are always easy targets. Bono? Hmmm…I could go on with this one…
What can a punter expect from a night at the Madhouse?
A crowd of devoted metalheads. A dark yet sophisticated ambience. Special guest DJs. Giveaways and exclusive promos. Circle pits. Affordable drinks. Long hair. Short hair. Leather. Studs. Babes. Iron Maiden’s (and now our) mascot Eddie making surprise appearances and often serving up free finger food! But most importantly, over five hours of diverse but uncompromising heavy metal.
What can a punter not expect from a night at the Madhouse?
Nu-metal.
THE MADHOUSE takes place every Friday at Decca Bar, 95 Queen St, from 10pm ’til late. Like them on Facebook at facebook.com/madhousemelbourne to get discount entry.
